A Memorial to Yves Saint Laurent, 5 Years After His Death

Paris — A private memorial concert marking five years since the death from brain cancer of Yves Saint Laurent was held on Monday at the Opéra Bastille — planned by Pierre Bergé, who was the couturier’s partner for half a century.

It was the reincarnation of the voice of Mr. Bergé by the actor Guillaume Gallienne of the Comédie-Française that moved the private audience, which included Catherine Deneuve and Betty Catroux, friends and muses of Saint Laurent. Mr. Bergé’s words — tender, sad, occasionally scolding, but always powerful — took as subjects collecting art together, building the couture house, the designer’s unstable temperament with alcohol and substance abuse and the couple’s love.

Mr. Bergé’s dictatorial and often pugnacious manner, so well known to the fashion crowd that attended the YSL shows, was given a softer and more reflective side by Mr. Gallienne, who read a selection of imaginary letters addressed to Yves after his death. The French publisher Gallimard had produced them in a book in 2011 entitled “Letters to Yves,” tracing the highs and lows of the 50-year partnership.

The event Monday took place on a stage that had two giant 1970s photos of the young designer, whose face already looked anguished. The desolate piano music from “Tristan and Isolde,” by Saint Laurent’s favorite composer Wagner, was played by François-Frédéric Guy, while the mezzo-soprano Sophie Koch later joined him in another musical tribute.